Ideal Leadership in Head Start Programs

Abstract

The field of Early Childhood Education (ECE) has risen to the top of the national educational agenda as a way to overcome the achievement gap and assure that all children learn.  With increased recognition comes greater accountability.  The field of ECE, particularly Head Start is under scrutiny to produce measureable results.  Leadership is crucial to assure both commitment to the holistic goals of ECE and the requirements of accountability.   The first step is to determine the views of those who know best, those who are working closely with children. The purpose of this paper is to report research on how current Head Start directors and teachers define effective leadership practices and strategies. These practices will help leaders and aspiring leaders in ECE settings to be able to motivate teachers and gain the necessary tools to lead in a time of measureable results.